Ten Years Later, Still Falling - Chapter 13: Chapter 13
You are reading Ten Years Later, Still Falling, Chapter 13: Chapter 13. Read more chapters of Ten Years Later, Still Falling.
The alcohol had done a number on him, leaving him in rough shape that demanded round-the-clock attention for now.
The real kicker? Like he'd said, he had no family left to step in.
So guess who got volunteered? Yours truly.
Between juggling his care and the company's endless demands, I was barely keeping my head above water when my phone started blowing up less than an hour in. Thank God Emma showed up when she did, offering to take over so I could haul ass back to the office.
By the time I returned at 10 p.m., the place was a ghost town except for a handful of die-hards burning the midnight oil. That's when I saw her—one of our department interns bolting from the office like the building was on fire, face flushed, clothes askew, eyes swimming with tears. She nearly took me out at the knees.
"I'm sorry! Oh God, I'm so sorry!" she gasped, trembling like a leaf. My gut twisted before she even spoke.
"What's wrong?" I demanded, grabbing her arm as my voice turned razor-sharp.
The dam broke then—ugly, hiccuping sobs as she choked out the story between gasps. Liam. His hands where they didn't belong.
White-hot rage licked up my spine. "Tell me he didn't—"
She shook her head violently. "N-no. He didn't."
Company policy said this was instant termination material, but I knew better. For an intern's word against a manager? The execs would need more convincing.
After calming her down with promises I intended to keep, I stormed toward Liam's office with lead in my shoes. What I found there stopped me cold.
There was Coal—trapped in a tiny cage, trembling in the corner while Liam hovered over him with a steaming cup of coffee, that sick smirk playing on his lips.
"Mr. Murray!" The words tore from my throat. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
He jumped like I'd tased him, then recovered with that slimy chuckle I wanted to wipe off his face. Setting the cup down, he leaned back and folded his arms like we were having a friendly chat.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in."
I didn't blink. "Explain. Now."
"Relax, Yuna." He gestured to a chair. "Have a seat."
I stayed rooted.
His smirk faltered. "You really think Scott's protection makes you invincible?" He leaned forward, venom dripping from every word. "Let me educate you—crushing you would be easier than drowning this flea-bag. Who'd even care if I did?"
A bitter laugh escaped me. "You know what's hilarious, Liam? After twenty years here, you're still just a manager while people half your age are VP material. Now I get why."
I snatched Coal's cage before he could react. As I turned to leave, his facade cracked like cheap plaster.
"Yuna White! You think Scott can touch me? I built this company!"
The irony was delicious. He still thought I needed someone else's clout. Meanwhile, I'd been quietly compiling his career obituary—doctored contractor agreements, shady under-the-table deals, rigged bids he'd turned a blind eye to.
I fired everything to the execs with a silent promise: if they didn't handle it, the authorities would.
Outside, I checked on Coal. The poor thing was rattled but unharmed—unlike someone's career prospects.
The real kicker? Like he'd said, he had no family left to step in.
So guess who got volunteered? Yours truly.
Between juggling his care and the company's endless demands, I was barely keeping my head above water when my phone started blowing up less than an hour in. Thank God Emma showed up when she did, offering to take over so I could haul ass back to the office.
By the time I returned at 10 p.m., the place was a ghost town except for a handful of die-hards burning the midnight oil. That's when I saw her—one of our department interns bolting from the office like the building was on fire, face flushed, clothes askew, eyes swimming with tears. She nearly took me out at the knees.
"I'm sorry! Oh God, I'm so sorry!" she gasped, trembling like a leaf. My gut twisted before she even spoke.
"What's wrong?" I demanded, grabbing her arm as my voice turned razor-sharp.
The dam broke then—ugly, hiccuping sobs as she choked out the story between gasps. Liam. His hands where they didn't belong.
White-hot rage licked up my spine. "Tell me he didn't—"
She shook her head violently. "N-no. He didn't."
Company policy said this was instant termination material, but I knew better. For an intern's word against a manager? The execs would need more convincing.
After calming her down with promises I intended to keep, I stormed toward Liam's office with lead in my shoes. What I found there stopped me cold.
There was Coal—trapped in a tiny cage, trembling in the corner while Liam hovered over him with a steaming cup of coffee, that sick smirk playing on his lips.
"Mr. Murray!" The words tore from my throat. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
He jumped like I'd tased him, then recovered with that slimy chuckle I wanted to wipe off his face. Setting the cup down, he leaned back and folded his arms like we were having a friendly chat.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in."
I didn't blink. "Explain. Now."
"Relax, Yuna." He gestured to a chair. "Have a seat."
I stayed rooted.
His smirk faltered. "You really think Scott's protection makes you invincible?" He leaned forward, venom dripping from every word. "Let me educate you—crushing you would be easier than drowning this flea-bag. Who'd even care if I did?"
A bitter laugh escaped me. "You know what's hilarious, Liam? After twenty years here, you're still just a manager while people half your age are VP material. Now I get why."
I snatched Coal's cage before he could react. As I turned to leave, his facade cracked like cheap plaster.
"Yuna White! You think Scott can touch me? I built this company!"
The irony was delicious. He still thought I needed someone else's clout. Meanwhile, I'd been quietly compiling his career obituary—doctored contractor agreements, shady under-the-table deals, rigged bids he'd turned a blind eye to.
I fired everything to the execs with a silent promise: if they didn't handle it, the authorities would.
Outside, I checked on Coal. The poor thing was rattled but unharmed—unlike someone's career prospects.
End of Ten Years Later, Still Falling Chapter 13. Continue reading Chapter 14 or return to Ten Years Later, Still Falling book page.